Mechanism for separating, aligning and timing movement of envelope blanks



July 17, 1962 R. WINKLER ETAL 3,044,767

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING, ALIGNING AND TIMING MOVEMENT OF ENVELOPE BLANKS Filed April 18, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. N- Richard Winklar and Kurl' Diinncbier MMM ATTORNEY.

July 17, 1962 R. WINKLER ETAL 3,044,767

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING, ALIGNING AND TIMING MOVEMENT OF ENVELOPE BLANKS Filed April 18, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Richard WinKlar BY and Kur+ Dunnebler w mww ATTOR N EY July 17, 1962 R. WINKLER ETAL 3,044,767

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING, ALIGNING AND TIMING MOVEMENT OF ENVELOPE BLANKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1960 n m WW m m w EHMW ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 3,044,767 MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING, ALIGNING AND TIMING MOVEMENT 0F ENVELOPE BLANKS Richard Winkler, Rengsdorf, near Neuwiecl, Rhineland,

and-Kurt Dunnebier, Wollendorf, near Neuwied, Rhineland, Germany, assignors to Berkley Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,768 Claims priority, application Germany May 21, 1959 11 Claims. (Cl. 271-2) This invention relates to a mechanism for separating, aligning and timing movement of blanks in envelope making or similar machines, and particularly blanks that move in partially overlapped or staggered relation and which must be separately advanced for individual-operations thereon.

For example, in high speed envelope making machines certain operations are carried out with the blanks moving in overlapped relation, as when the sealing gum is applied to the sealing flap portions of the blanks. In this way the sealing gum can be applied to all of the sealing flaps as a continuous band of adhesive, after which the blanks are moved slightly apart to prevent adhesion while the blanks are carried in staggered or lapped relation. Consequently before the lapped portions of the blanks can be individually operated upon, the blanks must be separated and properly aligned and timed with the subsequent operating mechanisms.

Prior .to the present invention, the usual mechanisms for separating, aligning and timing the blanks restricted the working speed of the envelope making machines and hence limited the output capacity thereof. In fact, the output capacity seldom exceeded 400 envelopes per minute.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a mechanism by which the blanks may be separated, accurately aligned, and timed in a manner capable of substantially higher speeds, and, consequently, an increased production.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by segment rolls cooperating with cylindrical counter rolls arranged in a manner that the foremost staggered blank is first positioned by the contact point of the segment rolls with the counter rolls and then released onto a continuous conveyor means for carrying the blanks to the subsequent operating mechanisms of the envelope making machine and in timed relation therewith.

In accomplishing this and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, we have provided an improved structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal horizontal section of a mechanism comprising one embodiment of the present invention, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line '2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and showing the segment and counter rolls on a larger scale.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of FIG. 3, showing one position of the segment rolls.

FIG. 5 is a similar section showing another position of the segment rolls.

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section on the line 77 of FIG. 6, but on a larger scale.

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7, illustrating one position of the segment rolls.

FIG. 9 is a similar section showing another position of the segment rolls.

3,044,767 Patented July 17, 1962 Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 and 2 designate the side frames of a portion of an envelope making machine between the delivery end of the drier section and ahead of the blank folding section. The envelope blanks A are carried through the drier in staggered or lapped relation between the lower runs 3 of upper belts 4 and the upper runs 5 of laterally spaced lower belts 6. The belts operate at their delivery ends over rollers 7 and 8. The roller 8 carrying the lower belts is mounted on a shaft 9 journaled in the side frames forwardly of the roller 7 to accommodate, above the runs 5 of the belts 6, laterally spaced apart carriages 10 and 11.

Each carriage has fore and aft pressure wheels 12 and 13 journaled on axles 14 and 15. The carriages are pivotally supported, with the wheels thereof in rolling contact with the blanks, on trunnions 16 projecting from heads 17 of angular rods 18. The angular rods 18 are adjustably mounted in clamps 19 positioned on a cross shaft 29, the rods being retained in adjusted position by set screws 21. The cross shaft 20 has the ends thereof carried in upright projections 22 of the. side frames 1 and 2. The roller 7 is carried on a shaft 23 also having its ends supported by the projections 22 of the side frames 1 and 2.

Extending upwardly from the side frames 1 and 2 forwardly of the projections 22 are uprights 24. The uprights 24 each have a recess 25 extending inwardly of the forward faces thereof for containing ends 26 of arms 27. The arms 27 are pivoted to the uprights 24 on pins 28 that pass through the ends of the arms 27 and have support in the sides of the recesses 25, as shown in FIG. 1. The arms 27 extend forwardly above the side frames 1 and 2 and the forward ends thereof have vertical slot like openings 29. Carried by the side frames 1 and 2 are pins 30 extending loosely through the openings 29.and having threaded upper ends 31 carrying a washer 32 and jam nuts 33 and 34 to provide adjustable stops for the arms under lifting action of springs 35. The springs 35 each have one end seated on a side frame and their other end bearing against the under side of a corresponding arm 27.

ournaled in openings 36 of the arms intermediate the pins 30 and 28 is a transverse rock shaft 37 carrying thereon laterally spaced apart segment rolls 38 and 39, each having a hub 40 keyed to the shaft 37 by elongated keys 41. The segment rolls 38 and 39 are adjustably fixed on the shaft by set screws 42 that are threaded in the hubs of the segments and bear against the keys 41'. Each segment roll has a partially cylindrical periphery 43 terminating at one diametrical side of the rock shaft 37 in a flat faced portion 44 to provide transverse contact' rolls 45 and 46 having peripheral faces 47 in registery with the faces of the segment rolls 38 and 39. The cylindrical rolls 45 and 46 are fixed by set screws 48 on a transverse shaft 49 which has its ends journaled in the side frames 1 and 2 of the machine. The rock shaft 37 carries a lever arm 50 which is fixed thereto by a set screw 51. The lever arm 50 is actuated by a cam (not shown) through a rod 52 to impart an oscillatory turning movement to the rock shaft 37 in time with mechanisms of the envelope making machine that perform one or more operations on each individual blank, as later described. The cylindrical rolls 45 and 46 preferably have the cylindrical faces '47 thereof comprising a resilient material, as indicated at 53, and which is adapted to make contact with the segment rolls (FIGS. 4 and 5).

Located on the side of the cylindrical rolls and 46 opposite the roller 8 is a roller 53 cooperating with a roller 54 and an idle roller 55 for mounting an endless conveyor in the form of a belt 56. The rollers 53, 54 and 55 are carried upon shafts 57, 58 and 59. The shafts 57 and 58 are journaled in the side frames 1 and 2 in position to carry the upper run 60 of the belt 56 in plane with the travel of the blanks A and to carry the blanks separately thereon into the folding section of the envelope making machine. The belt may be of toothed belt construction offering a positive driven connection with the rollers. The blanks A are advanced from the upper runs 5 of belts 6 across the cylindrical rolls 45 and 46 under control of the segment rolls 38 and 39, and onto the run 60 of the belt 56 by pressure of the pressure wheels 12 and 13 and aided by similar pressure wheels 61 and 62. The pressure wheels 61 and 62 are carried directly above the roller 53 by an angular rod 63. The wheels 61 and 62 are journaled on an axle 64 carried by a head 65 of the angular rod 63. The angular rod 63 is adjustable in a clamp 66 pivoted on a transverse rod 67 carried by the uprights 24.

Also cooperating with the upper run 60 of the belt 56 ahead of the pressure wheels 61 and 62 to hold the position of the blanks are front and rear pairs of pressure wheels 68 and 69 that are journaled on carriages 70 and 71 corresponding in construction to the carriages 10 and 11 previously described. The carriages 70 and 71 are pivoted to heads 72 of angular arms 73 that are adjustable in clamps 74 also pivoted on the transverse rod 67. The shafts 57 and 58 are driven in timed relation with the cycle of the folding section of the envelope making machine through driving connections represented by sprockets 75 and 76 on the respective shafts.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.

6 to 8, inclusive, conforms to the structure above described with the exception of the rolls for separating, timing, and aligning the blanks A. The above description of all other parts applies to this embodiment of the invention and the parts are identified in the drawings by like reference numerals.

In this form of the invention the cylindrical rolls are in pairs 7778 and 79-80 and are carried on a transverse shaft 81. The pairs of rolls 7778 and 7980 are journaled on antifriction bearings 82 carried by inner races 83 upon sleeves 84 and 85. The sleeves each have a collar 86 that is provided with set screws 87 by which the sleeves are secured to the shaft and adapted to be adjustably located thereon in accordance to the characteristics of the blanks A.

The segment rolls are also arranged in pairs 8889 and 90-91 and they are carried upon a lower shaft 92 having its ends journaled in the side frames 1 and 2.

The segment rolls 88 and 90 each have sleeves 93 connected therewith. The sleeves 93 carry keys 94 seated in a longitudinal keyway 95 of the shaft 92, whereby the segments 88 and 90 are rotated with the shaft 92 in the direction of the arrows, FIGS. 8 and 9, in timed relation with the driving mechanism of the folding section of the envelope making machine. The segment rolls 89 and 91 have hubs 96 rotatable upon the sleeves 93. The sleeves 93 project from the hubs and carry bell crank arms 97 and 98 that are retained thereon by collars 99 having set screws 100 locked against the sleeve 93, as shown in FIG. 7. The segment rolls 88 and 90 are thus retained in face to face contact with the segment rolls 89 and 91. Except for the hubs 96 and sleeves 93, the segment rolls are of like construction, in that each has the peripheral face portions 101 offset outwardly from portions 102 of the circumference thereof to provide arcuate lobes 103 for the segment rolls 89 and 91 and lobes 104 for the segment rolls 88 and 90. The lobes 103 and 104 of the segment rolls 88-89 and 90-91 make contact with the cylindrical faces 105 of the cylindrical rolls 77--78 and 79-80, respectively, to momentarily stop passage of the blanks A therebetween and to pass the blanks when the lobes 103 are out of contact with the cylindrical rolls, as later to be described. The segment rolls 89 and 91 are rotated counter to the segment rolls 88 and 90, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8. This is effected by providing the hub of each segment roll 89 and 91 With a gear 106 that meshes with a driving gear 107 on each bell crank arm 9798. The driving gears 107 are journaled on pins 108 that project from the inner sides of the bell crank arms 97-98. The gears 107 are retained on the pins 108 by collars 109 locked in position by set screws 110. The bell crank arms 97-98 are carried on a transverse shaft 111 having the ends thereof supported in the side frames 1 and 2 at a point below the shaft 57 for supporting the gears 107 in mesh with driving gears 112 which rotate in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 6, even when the bell crank arms 97 and 98 are adjusted laterally on the transverse shaft 111. The driving gears 107 are also operably connected with the drive of the folding section of the machine. With this arrangement, the segment rolls 88 and 90 are constantly rotated in the direction of movement of the blanks as indicated by the arrow W, FIG. 9, and the segment rolls 89 and 91 are driven in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow V, FIG. 8, to control passage of the blanks A between the pairs of cylindrical and segment rolls. In order to adjust the pairs of segment rolls to and from each other, the bell crank arms 97 and 98 are interconnected by a rod 112 having right and left threads on the respective ends engaged in correspondingly threaded openings 113 in the respective arms. In this way any rotation of the rod 112 in either direction will cause the arms 97 and 98 to move to and from each other in like amounts relatively to the longitudinal center of the envelope making machine.

The invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, operates as follows:

The envelope blanks A ordinarily are of generally diamond shape and are carried through the drier section of the envelope making machine between the runs 3 and 4 of the conveyor belts 4 and 6 in such a manner that the blanks are staggered or lapped one over the other with the corners of the bottom and closure flap portions carried substantially in the longitudinal center of the machine and the side flap portions extending transversely, with the leading edges of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the immediately adjacent blank. The blanks, therefore, emerge from under the belts 4 and are carried in the same order on the upper runs 5 of the belts 6 and under the pressure wheels 12 and 13 of the carriages 10 and 11.

The carriages 10 and 11 are so adjusted that the Wheels 12 and 13 register with the leading edges of notches a-c and 11-41 of the blanks. This is accomplished by moving the clamps 19 laterally on the transverse rod 20.

The cylindrical or counter rolls 45 and 46 and the segment rolls 38 and 39 are also adjusted laterally by loosening the set screws 42 and 48 and sliding the hubs 40 along the shafts 49 and 37 so that the faces 43 and 47 register with the leading lateral edge portions of the notches a-b. The rocking movement of the shaft 37 is so timed that when the segment rolls 38 and 39 are in the position shown in FIG. 4, the leading edge portions of the notches a and b abut against the bight between the rolls as the segmnet rolls 38 and 39 are being rocked in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4) by the crank arm 50, during which movement the foremost blank A is stopped. The stoppage is caused by the rotation of segment rolls 38 and 39 together with their counter rolls 45 and 46 being opposed to the flow of blanks A indicated by the arrow S (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The carriages 10 and 11 are adjusted by loosening the set screws 22 and sliding the rods 18 in the clamps 19 to make certain that the foremost pressure wheels 12 bear upon the face of the foremost blank.

the notches a and b engage the cylindrical faces 43 before reversal of the segment rolls 38 and 39, the adjustment is such that the belts 6, with the aid of the pressure wheels 12, continue to move the blanks forwardly while the segment rolls 38 and 39 are still moving in an anticlockwise or reverse direction relatively to the travel of the blanks, so that in this position of the se ment rolls the forward portions of the notches a and b make contact with the bight between the rolls before the rocker arm 50 operates to reverse the direction of the segment rolls 38 and 39. In fact, the preferred adjustment is to cause the foremost blank to arch upwardly in a greater or less extent between the segment rolls and the pressure wheels 12. As soon as the direction of the segment rolls reverses, the arcuate faces 43 thereof physically cooperate with the cylindrical faces 47 of the counter rolls 45 and 46 to grip the leading edge of the blank therebetween and start movement of the blank at the speed of the belt 56 and thus withdraw the foremost blank from the next following blank in such a manner that the foreportion of the blank is carried onto the run 60 of the belt 56 and under the pressure Wheels 61 and 62 before release of the blank by the segment rolls. Upon further movement of the segment rolls in a clockwise direction, they are in position to open up a pass for release of the blank when it is engaged by the belt 56 and the pressure wheels 61 and 62 continue the advance of the blank at the higher speed and timing under the pressure wheels 68 and 69 of the carriages 70 and 71. On reversal of the segment rolls 38 and 39, the arcuate faces again make contact with the counter rolls 45 and 46 to halt and bring about alignment of the next following blank. However, when the advance blank is well under the pressure wheels 68 and 69, the segment rolls have reversed their direction and the next succeeding blank is advanced in like manner, whereby the blanks are spaced in desired sequence and alignment when passed into the folding section of the envelope making machine.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, is adjusted to the blanks similarly to the first described form of the invention, except that the segment rolls are adjusted transversely of the path of the blanks by turning the shaft 112 in one or the other directions, which moves both pairs of segment rolls simultaneously in equal amounts to and from the longitudinal center of the machine.

Assuming that the mechanisms are in operation with the segment rolls 88 and 90 operating continuously in the direction of the arrow W and the segment rolls 89 and 91 operating continuously in the reverse direction as indicated by the arrow V (FIGS. 8 and 9), the envelopes are brought in between the belts 4 and 6 in the direction of the arrow R and presented under the pressure wheels 12 and 13. The arcuate faces 101 of the arcuate lobes m3 of the segment rolls 89 and 91 rotate in a clockwise direction, rolling the counter rolls 78 and 80 therewith to oppose entrance of the leading edges of the notches a and b of the foremost blank. Continued forward advancement of the blank by the belts 6 and pressure rolls 12 continue to urge the blank in the direction of the rolls and assure contact therewith, causing some arching of the blank. In this way the blank has sufficient action to shift until contact is made by both the leading edges of the notches a and b with the rolls, thereby establishing automatic alignment of the blank. During this adjustment of the blank, the arcuate faces of the high lobe portions 104 of the segment rolls 88 and 90 are out of contact with their counter rolls 77 and 79, so that they have no influence on the blank and give time for the blank to shift into alignment. However, the arcuate faces 101 of the segment rolls 88 and 90 are approaching the faces of their corresponding counter rolls (FIG. 8), and by the time the arcuate faces 101 of the segment rolls 89 and 91 are about to leave contact with their corresponding counter rolls, the arcuate faces of the segment rolls 88 and 90 start contact with their counter rolls to grip the blank therebetween, as shown in FIG. 9. An instant before, the arcuate faces 'of all four segment rolls were completely coinciding, as shown in FIG; 9. The blank is then drawn from under the pressure rolls 12 at the speed of the segment rolls 88 and 90. The pressure rolls 6162 and belt 56 then take over to carry the blank onto the upper run 69 in complete separation from the following blank, which is being held back and aligned ready to follow the blank then upon the belt 56, which now serves as a conveyor to carry the blank into the folding section of the envelope making machine.

It is obvious that in the latter form of the invention, the operating parts all rotate in continuous directions, with the exception of the ball bearing counter rolls, which are free wheeling to rotate in either direction when relieved of the pressure of the lobes of the segment rolls.

- Consequently, when a blank is being passed under the counter rolls, the counter rolls 78 and will tend to reverse and rotate in the direction of travel of the blank. From the foregoing, it is obvious that we have provided a mechanism by which the blanks may be separated, accurately aligned, and timed in a manner capable of substantially high speeds, and consequently an increased production of an envelope making machine.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in lapped relation thereon with a leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveying means, free wheeling counter rolls between the conveyor and the conveying means and having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, segment rolls having arcuate faces for contacting the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls to engage the leading edge and opposite face of the foremost blank, and means for actuating the segment rolls to move arcuate faces in a direction in opposition to advancement of the blanks for engaging the leading edge of the foremost blank to stop advancement of said blank and to move arcuate faces thereof in the direction of advancement of the blanks at the speed of said conveyor to cooperate with the free wheeling counter rolls for drawing said aligned blank from the conveying means and to pass said blank onto the said conveyor at the speed of the conveyor.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in. successive order and in lapped relation thereon with a leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveying means, pairs of free wheeling counter rolls spaced apart transversely of the path of travel of the blanks and located between the conveyor and the conveying means said pairs of free wheeling counter rolls having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, pairs of segment rolls having arcuate faces for physically cooperating with the cylindrical facesof the free wheeling counter rolls, means for rotating one segment roll of each pair to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction reverse to advancement of the blanks for engaging the leading edge of the foremost blank to stop momentarily said blank, and means for rotating the other segment roll of each pair in a reverse direction to move the arcuate faces thereof in the direction of movement of the blanks to cooperate with the free wheeling counter rolls for drawing said blank from the conveying means 7 and to pass said blank onto the conveyor separately from the next following blank.

3. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in successive order and in lapped relation thereon with a leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveying means, pairs of free wheeling counter rolls spaced apart transversely of the travel of the blanks and located between the conveyor and the conveying means said free wheeling counter rolls having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, correspondingly spaced pairs of segment rolls having arcuate faces for contacting opposite faces of the blanks, means for rotating one segment roll of each pair to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction reverse to advancement of the blanks for engaging the leading edge of the foremost blank to stop said blank, means for rotating the other segment roll of each pair in the direction of advancement of the blanks to cooperate physically with the counter rolls for drawing said aligned blank from the conveying means and passing said blank onto the conveyor separately from the next following blank, and pressure wheels cooperating with the conveyor for holding position of the separated blanks on the conveyor.

4. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in lapped relation thereon with the leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveyiug means, upper and lower transverse shafts between the conveyor and the conveying means, counter rolls rotatable on one of the shafts and having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, pairs of segment rolls having arcuate faces for contacting the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls, one of the segment rolls of each pair having a sleeve fixed to the other transverse shaft, a hub on the other segment rolls of each pair having rotatable support on said sleeves, gears on said hubs, drive gears meshing with the gears on the hubs for driving said other segment rolls in a direction reverse to advancement of the blanks for engaging the arcuate faces thereof with the leading edge of the foremost blank as said arcuate faces roll in contact with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls to position and time said blank with respect to said conveyor, means for driving the said one shaft at the speed of the conveyor to rotate the segment rolls having the sleeves to bring the arcuate faces thereof into cooperating relation with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls for withdrawing the positioned and timed blank from the conveying means and passing said blank onto the conveyor, and pressure wheels cooperating with said conveyor for holding the position of the blanks thereon.

5. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in lapped relation thereon with the leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, pressure wheels cooperating with the delivery end of the conveying means to hold the foremost blanks from retractive movement on the conveying means, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveying means, upper and lower transverse shafts between the conveyor and the conveying means, counter rolls rotatable on one of the shafts and having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, pairs of segment rolls having arcuate faces for rolling contact with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls, one of the segment rolls of each pair having a sleeve fixed to the other transverse shaft, hubs on the other segment rolls of each pair having rotatable support on said sleeves, gears on said hubs, arms journaled on the sleeves, gears on the arms meshing with the gears on the hubs, a transverse guide rod slidably supporting the arms thereon, drive gears meshing with the last named gears to rotate the segment rolls having the hubs in a reverse direction for engaging arcuate faces thereof with the leading edge of the foremost blank to align the foremost blank, means for operating the said other transverse shaft in a forward direction for rotating the segment rolls having the sleeves to bring the arcuate faces thereof into cooperation with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls for withdrawing the positioned and timed blank from the conveying means and to pass said blank onto the conveyor, and pressure wheels cooperating with said conveyor for holding the position of the blanks on said conveyor.

6. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in lapped relation thereon with the leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next immediate blank, pressure wheels cooperating with the delivery end of the conveying means to hold the foremost blanks from retractive movement on the conveying means, a conveyor for receiving the blanks from the conveying means, means for operating the conveyor at a higher speed than the conveying means, upper and lower transverse shafts between the conveyor and the conveying means, counter rolls rotatable on one of the shafts and having cylindrical faces for engaging one face side of the foremost blank on the conveying means, pairs of segment rolls having arcuate faces for rolling contact with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls, one of the segment rolls of each pair having a sleeve fixed to the other transverse shaft, hubs on the other segment rolls of each pair having rotatable support on said sleeves, gears on said hubs, arms journaled on the sleeves, gears on the arms meshing with the gears on the hubs, a transverse guide rod slidably supporting the arms thereon, drive gears meshing with the last named gears to rotate the segment rolls having the hubs in a reverse direction for engaging arcuate faces thereof with the leading edge of the foremost blank to align the foremost blank, means for operating the said other transverse shaft in a forward direction for rotating the segment rolls having the sleeves to bring the arcuate faces thereof into cooperation with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls for withdrawing the positioned and timed blank from the conveying means and to pass said blank onto the conveyor, pressure wheels cooperating with said conveyor for holding the position of the blanks on said conveyor, and a rod having right and left threaded connections with the respective arms to adjust the pairs of segment rolls to and from each other to position the segment rolls initially to the envelope blanks.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including means for conveying blanks in successive relation with the leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next following blank and for delivering the blanks from off an end of said conveying means, a conveyor at said delivery end of the blank conveying means, means for operating the said conveyor at a higher speed than the blank conveying means, counter rolls between the blank conveying means and the said conveyor and having cylindrical faces, segment rolls having arcuate faces physically cooperating with the cylindrical faces of the counter rolls to engage the leading edge of a foremost blank, and means for actuating the segment rolls to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction in opposition to advancement of the blanks for engaging said leading edge of the foremost blank to detain said blank and to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction of advancement of the blanks at the speed of the said conveyor for drawing said detained blank from the conveying means and passing said blank onto the said conveyor at the speed of the conveyor.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the means for actuating the segment rolls oscillates the seg- 9 ment rolls to detain the foremost blank and to advance the blank at the speed of said conveyor.

9. An apparatus of the chanacter described, including means for conveying blanks in successive relation with the leading edge of one blank in advance of the leading edge of the next following blank and for delivering the blanks from oif an end of said conveying means, a conveyor at said delivery end of the blank conveying means, means for operating the said conveyor at a higher speed than the blank conveying means, free wheeling counter rolls between the blank conveying means and the said conveyor and having cylindrical faces, segment rolls having arcuate faces physically cooperating with the cylindrical faces of the free wheeling counter rolls to engage the leading edge of a foremost blank, and means for actuating the segment rolls to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction in opposition to advancement of the blanks for engaging said leading edge of the foremost blank to detain said blank and to move arcuate faces thereof in a direction of advancement of the blanks at the speed of the said conveyor for drawing said detained blank from the conveying means and pas-sing said blank onto the said conveyor at the speed of the conveyor.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein said segment and counter rolls are in pairs, and the actuating means for the segment rolls rotates one of the segment rolls in each pair in opposite direction to movement of the blanks for detaining the foremost blank while the arcuate faces thereof are in contact with the leading edge of said foremost blank, and the other segment rolls of each pair in the direction that the blanks are conveyed to advance the detained blank onto said conveyor at the speed of the conveyor.

' the blanks from oif an end of said conveying means, blank removing means at said delivery end of the blank conveying means, rolls between the blank conveying means and the blank removing means and having circumferential faces, segment rolls having arcuate faces contacting circumferential faces of the rolls in one rotative position of the segment rolls and having inset faces to provide a pass in another portion of the segment rolls, means for actuating said blank removing means at higher rate of speed than the blank conveying means, and means for oscillating the segment rolls in timed rotation with the blank removing means for actuation in a direction counter to movement of the, blank conveying means to move arcuate faces thereof through said one position for stopping the leading'edge portions of a foremost blank on the first named conveying means to align said blank and to time the blank with respect to the blank removing means and for moving the segment rolls in the opposite direction for advancing the foremost blank to the blank removing means and to provide said pass in the other position of the segment rolls for advance of the blank at the speed of the said blank removing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,193,731 Story Aug. 8, 1916 2,569,692 Rockwell Oct. 2, 1951 2,677,542 Backhouse et a1 May 4, 1954 

